11 Secret Credit Card Perks You Probably Don’t Know About

Most consumers are aware of the common rewards that a credit card has to offer, such as cash back on purchases and free travel miles. However, apart from these, there may be many more perks available to you that you don’t even know about.

Cardholders usually don’t end up reading their credit card agreements - that seemingly neverending document either gets trashed, or filed away. However, if you go through the terms and conditions carefully, you may find information that could save you a substantial amount of time and money.

Interested? Read on to know more about the various perks that may be hidden in your credit card agreement.

1. Price Protection

Let’s say you bought an expensive electronic item with your card only to find it advertised for much cheaper a few days later. In such cases, you may be able to save the regret. Certain credit cards offer to reimburse the difference up to several hundred dollars if you file a claim within a certain time limit and include the store receipt and print ad.

2. Purchase Protection

Bought a new cell-phone, only to have it damaged or stolen? Depending on your card agreement, your issuer may be willing to make good the amount. For this, you’ll need to file a claim with your receipt and card statement, and a police report if the item was stolen. Nevertheless, be aware that your card provider's coverage is probably secondary to any other insurance that you may have and is valid only up to a certain time limit.

3. Return Protection

Once in a while we all tend to get carried away and purchase stuff that we don’t need. If you’re suddenly struck by buyer’s remorse and the store is unwilling to take back an item, some cards may refund it. But for this to work, the goods should be in perfect condition and accompanied by the original packaging and receipt.

4. Extended Warranties

Many cards extend the original warranty on a purchase free of charge as long as the item has been bought with that particular card. All you need for this purpose is the store receipt and warranty.

5. Retail Store Discounts

Card companies enter into deals with merchants to offer discounts exclusively to their cardholders. They may even give you bonus points or offer free shipping for shopping at certain websites with their cards.

6. Pre-sale Tickets with Preferred Seating

Many cards offer holders the opportunity to purchase tickets to a concert before bookings are opened up to the general public.  Card members may also get access to the best seats in the house. While consumers are unlikely to get a discount, they nevertheless gain from the chance to grab tickets to a particularly popular event.

7. Car Rental Insurance

When you rent a car, in many cases you may have to sign up for additional insurance coverage. As long as you pay using your credit card and decline the insurance offered by the car rental company, the card company may agree to provide you with coverage. However, be aware that the offer may not be valid a) for specific vehicles, such as trucks or SUVs, or b) if you’re renting in certain countries, such as Israel or Ireland.

8. Luggage Protection

Losing your luggage while on vacation can be a very frustrating experience. Most airlines offer just $25 per day in incidentals if they lose your luggage, until it is recovered. On the other hand, a credit card with lost luggage protection can provide you with enough money to replace those belongings to a certain extent. But for this, you need to pay for your flight or checked baggage with the card.

9. Roadside Assistance

If your car breaks down in the middle of the road, and you’re having difficulty contacting a towing company, calling your card’s customer service line may prove to be beneficial. Not only can they arrange to send a tow truck your way, but they can also help with jumpstarts, locksmith services and tire changes. But be aware that you’ll probably have to pay some sort of fee for the service - either a flat or a prenegotiated price. Additionally, some cards may only offer referrals instead of any discount on services

10. Trip Cancellation Insurance

If you have to postpone, cancel or interrupt a trip due to certain covered situations such as sickness or unfavorable weather, you may be able to reclaim some of the losses, as long as you paid for it using a credit card.

Unsecured Credit at 0% Interest

Certain card companies offer $250,000 or more of unsecured credit at 0% for a period of 6, 9, 12 or 18 months to borrowers, as long as they meet a prespecified credit profile. This money can be used for anything from business financing to meeting the down payment requirements on a home loan. However, in order to be eligible for this funding, applicants have to meet certain criteria. At Fund&Grow, for a flat fee, we not only tell our clients how they can qualify for this kind of a loan easily, but also do most of the legwork ourselves. So if you know someone who needs funds, have them call us at (800) 996-0270 and we will take care of their needs right away.